Conscientious Objection Under Threat: Abortion and Assisted Suicide Reforms Proposed
Conscientious objection is the simple idea that no one should be forced to take part in a practice they believe is wrong.
This is particularly important in the most controversial areas of our society; abortion, euthanasia, and sexuality and gender. Australians don’t agree on these issues, which is why your conscience is so important. It means that you, your medical professionals, and the religious organisations that we founded and rely on, cannot be forced to act against our deepest convictions.
The sad reality is that conscientious objection is under constant threat – attacking both individual medical practitioners and faith-based institutions.
In just the past few weeks, issues have risen in Victoria, NSW and Northern Territory, which raise great concerns about the direction our governments are taking.
Victoria
Two Victorian political parties and their MPs have released a report on access to abortion, which recommends significantly undermining conscientious objection.
One of their recommendations was to remove the ability for faith-based institutions (including hospitals) to choose not to perform abortions in their facilities.
However, another recommendation is even more insidious: the report calls for an “oversight mechanism to collect data on the number of conscientious objectors and to ensure compliance with referral obligations”.
The recommendation would force all conscientious objectors to register with the government, to be counted and monitored – effectively creating a public list of religious medical practitioners.
This would be extraordinary government overreach, violating the most fundamental principles of conscience and privacy. We are gravely concerned that the Victorian government might consider this recommendation.
This report comes just after the Voluntary Assisted Dying Amendment Bill 2025 which requires conscientiously objecting medical practitioners to provide information to patients regarding VAD and compels them to refer patients to another practitioner. This amendment increases our concern about the trend against conscientious objection in Victoria.
NSW
Despite a strong campaign from faith leaders supported by Freedom for Faith, Susan Carter MLC’s amendment to the NSW Voluntary Assisted Dying Act was narrowly defeated. The amendment would have strengthened conscientious objection for faith-based aged care.
It was encouraging to see members from both sides of politics supporting the amendment. However, we were disappointed by some of the members who opposed the amendment whom we thought would have been supportive.
Read more about the amendment and the final vote
More recently, a threat to individual conscientious objection to abortion has been exposed.
The Chief Executive of a Local Health District has told a parliamentary committee that providing ‘termination services’ may be a condition of employment in the NSW health system.
Ms Jill Ludford, answering questions from NSW Shadow Assistant Attorney-General Susan Carter MLC, said government health services had to balance conscientious objections by health practitioners with the rights of women and the rights of women to access services.
Under direct questioning, Ms Ludford was evasive as to whether a new employee would be interrogated about their willingness to perform an abortion, or whether it would be a condition of employment.
Northern Territory
As I wrote last week, the Northern Territory Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee has released its recommendations on implementing voluntary assisted dying in the Territory.
Despite a number of important protections for religious freedom, there are some significant concerns in the recommendations, and the recent developments around the NT Anti-Discrimination Act give us reason to be concerned that religious freedom will be fully protected in any VAD legislation.
Following the release of the Committee’s report, Freedom for Faith has just sent a follow-up submission, addressing issues with the report and highlighting the importance of protecting religious freedom.
Read the full report and our response
Thank you so much for all your prayers and support. This fight can only continue with your partnership.
___
Republished with thanks to Freedom for Faith. Image via Adobe.
One Comment
Leave A Comment
Recent Articles:
6 October 2026
10 MINS
This powerful testimony recounts a lifetime of hardship, danger, illness and near-death experiences — and the unwavering faith that carried one woman through it all.
6 October 2026
3.4 MINS
Christians cannot afford to let headlines and social media shape their view of Israel. Scripture provides a foundation for understanding Israel, God’s promises and our response.
6 October 2026
6.7 MINS
Fresh revelations about the foiled FlyDubai terror plot expose the attacker’s alleged extremist history, while a courageous pilot’s actions prevented an unthinkable catastrophe.
6 October 2026
6.2 MINS
Britain’s grooming gang scandal exposes a devastating failure to protect vulnerable children, raising urgent questions about political correctness, accountability, immigration and the loss of moral courage.
6 October 2026
3.8 MINS
A grandmother’s disputed death has put Canada’s euthanasia regime under fresh scrutiny, as the Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) program passes 100,000 deaths with a further expansion slated for 2027.
6 October 2026
3.3 MINS
We often talk about church renewal as though we need more people, more programmes, more energy and more resources. But Jesus seems to start somewhere much smaller. With two or three.
5 October 2026
4.9 MINS
Free Speech Union co-founder Reuben Kirkham warns Australia’s proposed Digital Duty of Care could expand censorship powers, undermine free expression and bypass recent legal protections.
If it’s bad then it’s a given the Victorian Govt will go for it.